TRAVELS of "HELIOPAUSE"

Chicago IL, -DuSable Marina – Joliet, IL, city wall – Oct 11, 2021

Pushing off from the picturesque skyline we head down towards the Chicago River.  Scott took the time to design a lift system for the tallest portion of our boat. The radar tower sits almost 3 feet above the main part of the boat. He designed and created a special mounting to take off the radar with a small amount of effort so that we could enjoy areas that are too tall if you are almost 18 feet. He created it for the western Erie Canal but it also works for the Chicago River instead of taking the alternate route through the industrial portion and missing the experience of the Chicago River. If you are under 17 feet tall you can take this river as it meanders throughout the city with over 40 bridges.  Otherwise you can take the Calumet-Sag River and must fit under 19’6”.

The Chicago River is much more beautiful and the buildings can take your breath away if you like architecture and history.  As you cruise through the bridges you will note that buildings have different structures.  Some cement, some glass, some steel.  That is mainly due to the different styles of architects that have made their claim here in Chicago which is named the most diverse style of buildings in the world.  You can see the history in these buildings.

Along the river are kayak rentals, pontoon rentals, water taxis, shuttles, cruises for the tourists and recreational boats.  It can get very busy. 

Leaving the Chicago downtown area and heading down the suburbs of Chicago we leave the tall skyscrapers in the distance and come upon all the industrial area.  Barges and tows are becoming familiar along with the parked barges along the side either emptying their wares or filling their hulls with grain, sand, stone.  These barges supply the city with materials needed, not just Chicago but also those farther south. 

The area in a portion of the Illinois River has the electric charge underwater fencing to keep the Asian Carp out from the Great Lakes.  There is an entire infrastructure built for only this purpose.

A warm day in October but with rain expected.  We are hoping to get to Joliet before the big rains.  We follow several barges and end up being stopped just before the Lockport Lock as a barge starts downbound.  We are stuck waiting an hour.  Then the rain starts.  Weatherman says thunderstorms and heavy rains tonight. 

So here we are tied up to the Joliet wall.  It is beside a beautiful treed park.  We have heard many a story about not staying here so we call the recommended police station and let them know we are staying the night.  The police number is 815 724 3100 and they are putting out extra patrol tonight.  I think we will tie our lines back to the boat, put on the anchor alarm, tether and lock our mid cleat, keep the cameras on, cell phones beside our bed.  There will be lots of sleep interruption tonight as we take turns checking.

With these rains it will be a bevy and movie night.

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Milwaukee, WI – Chicago, IL, DuSable Marina – Oct 9, 2021

Too many marinas for our liking.  We can’t wait till we are off the Lakes.  The weather is changing tonight to a poor outlook for travel so we know we have to get to Chicago.  Leaving Milwaukee harbour we are greeted to a slow and quiet Lake Michigan.  There is still the roll that comes from large bodies of water but the conditions are amazing.  We run to Chicago in about 6 hours at 8 knts.  8 knts is our comfortable speed and great gas mileage.  Scott has always said that you either have time or money while traveling on a boat.  When you work you always need to be somewhere at a certain time and when you have the time you take the time to conserve.  It is proving to be a true statement. 

It was such a nice cruising day.  As we approach Chicago from the west the city skyline comes into view.  It was a patchy, fog arrival with sailboats out enjoying the light winds and calm waters.  Cruise and tour boats are out with folks enjoying the sights.  Rounding into the harbour the main lighthouse is a sight.  The harbour at Chicago is a harbour, within a harbour.  With the strong waves from Lake Michigan the city has established a large open area where you can boat as if on a small lake, then you round another harbour to enter into where the marinas and anchorages are.  We do need groceries and want to see the city so we will be taking a slip at DuSable Marina. 

DuSable Marina is the closest marina to the city.  It is also closest to the first lock to enter the Chicago River and head downtown.  The marina has everything you need for a city stop.  The boardwalk along the river is at the end of your dock with locks and security patrolling.  A code will get you into your dock when you leave to visit the sights. 

It is late in the day so we have dinner and call it a day.  We will be here for a couple nights so we can enjoy just a bit of the city. 

The night lights do not disappoint.  Simply spectacular with the tall buildings.  It was such a warm night we had dinner out on the deck and watched dusk fall into night with the city coming alive with the light show. 

Kauwanee, WI, city wall  – Sheboygeon, WI, – Oct 7, 2021

It’s a 5 hour run south to Sheboygeon, WI. Again getting an early start we head out the channel again with those pesky easterlies on our beam.  We are met with some heavier winds than yesterday but Heliopause can handle them.  Me not so much.  A lot of time was spent with my eyes closed on the couch in a prone state.  Ralph factor 7.  It’s has become a new call sign for how bad the seasickness is. 

The trip south is open water again about 10 miles offshore.  There isn’t much story to tell about this trip as it is routine with the open waters of Lake Michigan. 

Rounding the harbour of Sheboygeon there is an open area for anchoring but at this point we are just going to the marina.  The winds have picked up and the fog is rolling in and rain predicted.   The marina finds us our slip.

We decided to head into the harbour boardwalk where the entire area has been upgraded.  Lake Michigan is still high and the docks that normally are available for docking are underwater.  There are no docking signs on both the north and south side of the harbour.  We find a quaint store and pick up some extra tasties for our pantry.  Fresh soup ready for a cold night, which we have had a couple here and there. 

Walking around town in the quaint streets with not many people was a treat.   It was drizzling by now but we managed to wander and explore.  Eventually, we head back to the marina.

This marina is by far the best marina we have ever seen.  Not only did it have a 60 ft dock for HP, 50 amp power, it was clean, had a great view, a convenience store, restrooms, laundry facilities.  You name it, it is here.  I did do laundry to catch up.  As the rain started we headed out to the heated pool and spa.  No one was there.  So we changed in the heated separate change rooms, jumped in the warm pool and swam laps and had some fun for over an hour.  Then the hot tub awaited.  We stayed in there longer than we probably should have.  It was rejuvenating though with all the logistics, planning, ups and downs all behind us. 

By this point it is dinner so off to relax, grab a sundowner and wait out the rain. 

Hotel Quattro, Sault Ste Marine, ON to Sturgeon Bay, WI by plane and shuttle – Oct 5, 2021

Flights booked, shuttle booked to get to the airport.  Check out at 7:30 am.  We both pinch ourselves.  Up until now we were not sure exactly which plan was going to pan out.  This has been a long few weeks and the day is here, finally.

Flight at The Soo was turned around in Toronto due to a malfunction.  We were instructed that we would have to wait until a new flight made the trek north.  Okay, grab another coffee.  At least there is wifi. 

Finally get on the flight and we are told that we won’t make our connection so the agent books that for a later connection.  Dang.  We really wanted to have the time to stock up and get situated coming in around 5:30.  Now it will be 10:00 pm.  Call the shuttle driver to be sure he can pick us up.  Check.

Easy flight to Toronto and we grab lunch.  I packed our lunch and it came in handy.  Now we have a 4 hour layover.  We find a quiet spot by ourselves and wait for the flight to Chicago. 

On time, yay.  It’s around 4:00 and a little over an hour to Chicago.  I think the taxying on the tarmac took longer than the flight did.  O’Hare is a large as they say.  Finally in.  No luggage for us as we travel with carry on only.

Our final leg of this journey is a flight from Chicago to Green Bay, WI.  Another hour flight. We will land late as we were held up on the Chicago runway waiting in a long line of flights to take off.  The shuttle driver followed us on our flight for landing time. 

Landing in around 10:15 we now have a shuttle drive to the marina where Heliopause waits for us.  Can’t wait to be home.  The shuttle was about 45 minutes. 

All this time we are traveling so is the Captain and crew.  We had to book everything.  So they took a shuttle from Sturgeon Bay to Green Bay, jumped on an Amtrak train to Chicago, then a taxi to home.  Yes they made it without a hiccup.  I think we are hired for future planning.

There she was.  Standing so elegant in the night with her lights on.  Thanks Captain Karl from At the Helm.  So thankful right now.  Change sheets, grab a shower and head to bed.  It’s a good day!

Hilton Beach, ON – Drummond Island, MI – Sturgeon Bay WI – Oct 2

Best news ever.  Sault Ste Marie, MI is giving out cruising permits.  Just heard that they just issued one yesterday.  So I was all over that getting names, numbers and what we needed to get this done.  The day is looking up and we are super excited about this development.

Scott says the engines are ready to have their filters changed so he heads off to the engine room to do maintenance.  I prepare the berths for the 2 crew coming onboard.  We had stocked up on food in Tobermory and made sure to have the Captain’s favourites.  Cleaning up inside and making sure it is presentable, after a few weeks living aboard, was very much in need.  Changing all linens and towels, prepping the galley, windows cleaned…..check.

By the time we are done we have a couple hours before the Captain arrives.  We pack up what we will need to head to the hotel in The Soo.  We will be taking their taxi back to the hotel. 

We did get a ride back to The Soo, ON and stayed at the hotel on pins and needles wondering if the Captain would have the ability to get a cruising permit.  Waiting, waiting, waiting for the call.  Finally, Scott gets a call from the head of the port of entry area on his day off, no less and it’s Sunday.  The director was quick to reference to us that this was something that we had to arrange before the Captain arrived but he would let us have the permit after asking many questions to fill out the paperwork.  He was so accommodating and kind.  A huge thank you to him.

Once we received the number for the cruising permit our plans changed.  Now the Captain can to take HP to Sturgeon Bay, WI because we are now able to drive ourselves.  That was the best news we have heard on this journey from St. Catharines.  We always knew that Chicago plan would be okay but this news makes our dream work.  So now the Captain heads out from Drummond Island, MI at the port of entry and starts heading south.  Heading south as a nice ring to it.

Somewhere in Lake Michigan Heliopause will jump the timezone and be in Central Time rather than Eastern Time making her an hour behind us.

We are at the hotel for the next 3 days until Heliopause makes her way to an area that can get our Captain home easily by plane.  We figure Sturgeon Bay is a good fit being close enough to Green Bay, WI. We make plans for our flights from The Soo, ON to Green Bay, WI and a shuttle to Sturgeon Bay.  Literally planes, trains, and automobiles yet again.